I ordered this month of YA Chronicles specifically because of the theme “Can you feel the love tonight?”. If you reference music OR the Lion King then I am in, they referenced both. I was really hoping there would be something Lion King related in the box but no such luck.

So obviously as it is a February box it was to do with Valentines day or Love at least.

First thing being the wonderful soy candle from The Book Hangover (made exclusive for YA Chronicles) called feysand which I would probably love more if I had of read any of A Court of Thorns and Roses series. It smells AMAZING none the less.

The next thing was the card that tells me all about the items in the box (which let me know about the candle). Also a YA Chronicles bookmark to add to my collection!

Before my favourite part of the box was a little pin (which the card informed me is from The Fault in Our Stars), I know I am very behind as I haven’t read it or seen it. Maybe one day I will love this pin.

Now my FAVOURITE part. This is the most AMAZING tea I have ever gotten. It is a custom tea blend from West End Tea Co. called Amortentia! Yes this is a Love potion tea with rose and vanilla on a base of green tea.

Last but not least, the book. Valentine by Jodi McAlister. A YA novel about 4 teenagers all born on Valentines day and someone is coming to kill one of them, but they don’t know which! That’s a rather short version of the synopsis, it sounds interesting.

We know my favourite part already but I will probably not purchase another box because I am not in a financial position to and also I really only LOVED half of it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I could not finish this! I watched the movie and thought meh then I really pushed myself to read it and I just can’t.

2. A Popular Book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love.

The Divergent trilogy. I am unsure if the series is hated but a lot of people really did not like it, I LOVED IT.

3. A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn ppl for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don’t like.

Paradise series by CJ Duggan. You can tell at the start of Paradise Road who she will end up with but I kept reading and kept praying that she chose differently.

4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for.

Horror. If you know me you know I am such a sook so I don’t get into horror, it makes me tense.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.

Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter. I can’t really explain this, I know she is supposed to be badass and that’s why her and Harry end up together. I don’t like her character and I think her and Harry are a bad match.

6. A popular author that you can’t seem to get into.

Shakespeare. I know so many people rave about his work but as I am illiterate I find it so so difficult to read

I don’t know if it counts as a trope but miscommunication in YA relationships. Does no one know how to communicate!? Talk to people, not hard.

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.

The Hunger Games. I cop so much shit for this because it is dystopian like Divergent so I should love it. I have zero interest in reading it, I saw parts of the first movie and didn’t like that either so.

9. The saying goes “The book is always better than the movie”, but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?

As much as I love the illustrations in the books, Winnie the Pooh is that much cuter when you hear the voices of the characters.
So my 2017 reading goals are actually pretty simple. My goodreads goal is to read 50 books this year, start small. 2017 will be the year of re read., I feel I need to read Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia this year, along with other books I have already read but years ago.
Also this year I will listen to some Audiobooks, as I have never listened to a book. I may start small with Tom Delonge narrating the Lonely Astronaut on Christmas Eve.

From a young age my parents read to me and encouraged me reading. When I was young I got these books one every week or month and the had different levels of difficulty. Some of these books are still some of my favourite stories, like Even Steven and Odd Todd.

All through primary school was the book nerd, while everyone went out to play and run around, I would sit in the library or in the shade and read. Although I got picked on in primary school for just being me and for reading all the time, it was the least drama I have ever had in school.

I honestly wish I would have stayed like that through high school. Throughout high school I read the books I needed to for school and some books but nowhere near the amount I used to read.

After high school I read pretty much no books for 2 years. At the start of 2013 I ordered a book in the bookstore called Love Beyond Life. This book is based off the music of Angels and Airwaves, which if you know me, is my favourite band. This is the book that got me back into reading!

Since 2013 I have been reading much more than the never I used to read after high school. This year I got a novel called Poet Anderson … Of Nightmares and this book I could not put down, I didn’t want to go to work because I wanted to read the rest, I had dreams about what would happen next. This is what a good book will do to you and I have really missed that feeling.

I had a goal of reading 50 books in 2016 (which was highly ambitious). I have only made it halfway through that (but that is still 25 books more than 2012!), considering the year I have had I have forgiven myself. I have set the same goal of 50 books for next year and I hope to achieve this.

I really believe reading a book and escaping into another world does wonders for mental health (well, mine anyway).

Before I begin, you are probably thinking she is a photographer, what does she know about books? Well anyone that knows me well enough knows I cannot correct grammar but I know when something is a good story.

Token Huntress is the first book in a series, written by Kia Carrington-Russell, she has said that of all of her books this was the most fun to write. You can tell it was fun to write by reading it. As a photographer (someone who is good at capturing stories and moments) it bewilders me how authors come up with these amazing stories.

Now I won’t give away too much but Token Huntress has vampires in it but if you expect it to be anything like Twilight you will be very disappointed. This book is basically about the end of the world with a twist. Ok it’s more than one twist but if you anything like me you will guess one before it happens and the other will make your jaw hit the floor! The main character is not human although at times you can resonate with her, everyone has struggles, everyone can understand making choices.

It is a peculiar storyline but exquisite writing. Kia has a unique view on the end of the world (fiction of course) and has upped the standard of fiction coming from Australian Authors. The last time I had this much interest in a fiction novel was the Maximum Ride series from James Patterson. The style of writing so you feel the need to hold onto all details and continue to see what comes next also reminds me of the Max Ride series.

I was very pleased with the reaction I had to Token Huntress as I am someone who loves books but it is rare that I get one that I refuse to put down.